Getting puppy and kitten at around the same time - could this work?!?

[Dappled]

We have been researching getting a dog for about 18 months now (after thinking about it for years and my DD being desperate for one for half her life), particularly looking at breeds of dog who are generally child and cat friendly. After a lot of looking and contacting people we are on a waiting list with a breeder who we like and trust. It seemed likely we might be able to get a puppy around late spring/early summer next year. In the meantime, a relative has had a litter of kittens from her Siamese cat (they are Siamese x kittens) and has asked us if we would like one. We've been looking at photos of them from birth and my DD and DS are wildly excited about it. We already have two cats currently, but have plenty of space and have felt like one more cat + a dog is a realistic amount that we could manage in our lives (but then no more ). However, unexpectedly, we're now further up the puppy waiting list, a litter has just been born, and the upshot is a puppy and a kitten might be ready to come into our home at around the same time (February). What I'm trying to decide is, is this madness - or actually quite a good idea?!? I was thinking it would be wise to get the kitten before a puppy rather than after, so that the cats are already established before the dog arrives. But what about getting them at around the same time? Could this be a good thing, i.e. they will be growing up together from a young age? Has anyone done this? I know it will be masses of work, but I was factoring in getting two in the first half of next year anyway, just not actually at the same time.... Anyone got any tips for a smooth transition? Our two existing cats are pretty chill, one has lived with dogs before, is friendly and curious and is desperate for a playmate (other cat is older and not so interested in playing now), our older cat is pretty calm and confident; so I think they will probably both be ok with new additions (as much as it's ever possible to tell in advance with animals) although I'm not sure whether it's unfair on them to get two new additions at once. We've waited so long for a puppy and wanted to get it right and from a breeder we really like. Breeder only breeds occasionally - so if we don't have this one it might be a fairly long wait for another chance. And my DC's are so in love with all the photos and videos of my SIL's kittens (so am I to be honest) that I'm definitely not going to turn one of those down. Is this do-able do you think?

Don't do it. Really, really, don't do it. You won't be able to give either the attention they need, the puppy will chase the kitten (they are going to be irresistably zoomy), the kitten will scratch the puppy and you will be in tears over dealing with them. Additionally, your existing cats would have enough on their plates dealing with a kitten or a puppy, but both at the same time would be overload

We got a kitten about a month after we brought home our first pup (golden retriever). The first week or so was hairy but after that life calmed down. We were able to keep them apart at night / during the day when we weren't around and the pup wasn't able to get up on the furniture but the kitten could so could always escape. The cat was always more savvy than the dog and teased him mercilessly by disappearing behind furniture where the pup couldn't follow and then reappearing the other side while the pup was still watching where he'd entered. They grew up side by side and were good company for each other. When the dog died aged 14+ the cat really missed him.

When you say you've got plenty of space, how much space are you talking? You've got to really be able to separate the cats and puppy entirely, its not a given that they'll all get on. Are you curreny cats OK with dogs? My concern would be for them, it would be a huge adjustment getting f used to a kitten and a dog. If they can they have room to only have to be around the puppy and kitten on their own terms then it could work.

@CMOTDibbler, yes those were some of my fears. Thanks for your honest thoughts, it's easy to think something may be easier than it really would be just because you want it to happen so much. I've been reading very varied things online, with some websites and forum comments recommending getting 2 as puppies/kittens rather than trying to settle them in at different times. Possibly it's having existing cats that would tip the balance into it being A Bad Idea. I don't know if it makes any difference, but DH was planning to take a month off work when we get the puppy and I work mainly from home so we'd be on hand pretty much 24/7 for the first few weeks. Mind you, I've seen the puppy survival threads on here about how hard just having a puppy is
@Passmethegin67, glad to hear you had a good experience, it's reassuring to know that it can work. How hairy were the hairy moments in the beginning i.e. did you worry for the kittens safety? I love a cat/ dog friendship story. It's just a bit unknowable whether that will turn out to be the case with your own...

We’ve always done this! It has always worked well for us, other than they are not sure if they are feline or canine! Current ones are 1. 12 yo darling dog lost his feline friend when he was 2.

Dog and cat cuddle up in front of the fire together and play together and are besties really. We do monitor though, we are around all day, and then at night the dogs are in the kitchen and cats in the rest of the house. Plus baby gate on the stairs which cats can jump so they have the run of upstairs which is a dog free zone.

Our older cat and dog both died in the last 2 years age 17 and 18 respectively; they were besties for life.

So my experience is a positive one.

Btw, the cats Always have the upper hand!

Nope!

I love having new animals but what I love the most is being able to spend time with them.

I love the training, bonding, playing and getting to know them. I always feel it is watered down by just normal life so no I would not get a kitten and a puppy together.

I would cope but that is not the point I would want to enjoy and give them the time they deserve, that would not be possible with existing cats, new puppy and new kitten.

@Wicker382, well, it's not enormous but it's a pretty big house with spaces that could be pretty easily divided up into separated workable areas in the early stages plus it's on three floors with 4 bedrooms, so there are quite a lot of opportunities for cats to be able to retreat and have alone time if they need to. We would be able to completely separate puppy and cats to start with easily enough, I guess the hope is it would get easier over time and this could be relaxed, the fear would be it doesn't. I did seek advice from a dog behaviourist early this year when we were considering whether an adult rescue dog might work with cats and wanted some advice, we were quite firmly advised against that but she was very much of the opinion that cat intros will usually work with puppies, especially puppies of the non-hunting breeds. However, that was before we'd been offered a kitten. It's true that it is a bit unknown with the adult cats. Older boy must have come across dogs being walked on the streets a lot during his life, so he knows them from a distance but has never lived with them. He's pretty confident so I think he'd be ok although I can imagine him observing from a very safe distance for some time. Younger girl is a bit more of an unknown. She was a breeder rehome at the age of two and the breeder also had dogs in the house, but I don't know how much they interacted. I'm going to contact her and have a chat about it. Younger girl is very very sociable and desperate to interact and play with everything. Her play might trigger a dog, or not. She's a Maine Coon so a pretty big personality with plenty of weird quirks. It's hard to predict anything with her!

@lots33 your set-up in terms of who is allowed where sounds exactly like what we're thinking of doing. Dog cat friendships with sensible precautions sounds good. Yours sound so lovely together.
@PollyRoulson that's a good point. Enjoying it not just surviving it is probably important.

We got our kitten 2 weeks before we got the puppy. They are best friends(kitten is currently curled up with puppy in her crate). It has been such a delight to see them play together. They sleep apart but are happy to see each other first thing in the morning, then they both come and sit on my knee for a cuddle and groom each other.

I think it helps that kitten came from a family with a dog. We have another kitten(well practically a cat now) who we got 2 months before the kitten and she tollerates the dog but they aren't friends.

Have you had Siamese/Orientals before? They are amazing but not for the faint hearted! Very full on characters, they actually get on well with dogs usually, I would be more worried about integrating them with your existing cats though! It could work but it's a lot of hard work and a lot of stress to place on your existing cats, would definitely recommend getting some feliway plug ins and make sure the cats can get away from the kitten and puppy

Hmm it would be tough but might just work out in the long run. Obviously as you say avoid a dog with a known prey drive. I'd not get a whippet or a jack Russell for example

We got our baby dachshund and little black kitten in the same week, seven years ago. It's been great. They loved playing and I think it helped them settle into their new home having each other. Thoroughly enjoyed watching them. They remain quite fond of each other. Cat definitely the boss; she is much bigger than the dog. It was a non issue for us really.

My concern would be that a new kitten plus a new puppy would be a lot of upheaval for your existing cat.

Also, yes it could work out and it would be lovely if it did but what of it didn't? What would your options be? Rehome the new kitten or the puppy? That's the risk.

We had a young dog and a kitten. Cat is now very dog like rather than cat Everyone gets on well though

It was hairy in that the pup wouldn't leave the kitten alone at first and kept trying to get to him. Luckily the kitten could escape onto sofas / chairs / windowsills etc that the pup was unable to get to. By the time he could climb up too, the novelty of chasing the cat had worn off. I do remember in the early days sitting on the sofa trying to watch TV with the kitten practically perched on my shoulder while the pup was trying to climb up my lap wondering what on earth I'd let myself in for! The cat was very much the boss but they were company for each other and missed each other when one of them wasn't there. What sort of pup are you looking to get?

We have 3 cats and 1 current dog but there has also been a puppy in the mix and one of the cats was a kitten. When dog 1 arrived we had an elderly cat and 2 younger ones - cats were top. Old cat died and then puppy arrived - one cat was top and one decamped to live upstairs! Puppy moved on as we only had him for one year socialising him for a charity then kitten arrived and status quo resumed with all cats downstairs and dog bottom of the pecking order. As long as the cats can get away and you teach the puppy not to harass them and dont stress too much it should all work out. In my experience cats are always the boss!

Personally its one or the other, its just not worth the risk.

Thanks everyone, still mulling it over, but these thoughts and suggestions are very helpful.

I have 7 month old kitten and got a dog in the last week. The dog barks at the cat and runs at him. The cat has spent most of his time upstairs. I hope that the dog will get used to the cat and stop being dick to him. i'm not sure the best way to do it tho!